Convection heater



Oct. 27, 1953 B. sPu-:TH

CONVECTION HEATER 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March l 1948 Qct. 27, 1953 B, SPlETH 2,656,780

CONVECTION HEATER Filed March l5, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2:

jaa f5 l 4 392 6 Oct. 27, 1953 B. sPlETH 2,656,780

coNvEcTIoN HEATER Filed March 15, 194e 4 sheetssneet z Oct. 27, 1953 B. SPIETH CONVECTION HEATER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 15, 1948 il: iK

Patented Oct. 27, 1953 CONVECTION HEATER Benjamin Spieth, Racine, Wis.,

assignor to Modne Manufacturing Company, Racine, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application March 15, 1948, Serial No. 14,968

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a convection heater and the like.

One object of the invention is to provide a cabinet having an air inlet opening at its bottom and a hot air outlet opening at its top, together with a heating element disposed adjacent the air inlet opening of the cabinet and adapted to heat air passing upward through the cabinet.

Another object is to provide a convection heater that can be constructed economically using modern factory production methods, and with a minimum number of parts and one that is highly eicient in operation,

Another object is to provide a cabinet as part of a convection heater unit, pleasing in appearance and conforming to modern styles in home architecture.

Another object is to provide a cabinet construction adaptable to conditions of free standing in a room, or to be partially, or almost L wholly recessed into a wall, and the design is such that when the cabinet is recessed into a wall, the recess may be trimmed in a simple fashion.

Another object is to provide a design of cabinet outlet grille which automatically increases in area, as the depth of cabinet is increased, thus permitting full ilow of convected air without unnecessary restriction. This is desirable in order to obtain full capacity as the cabinets increase in depth and which is impossible when a single size outlet grille is used for all depths of convector assemblies, as in the usual design.

Another object is to provide a cabinet which permits of easy access to the air vent of hot water heating units, which access is ordinarily troublesome and unsightly.

Another object is to provide a cabinet incorporating a damper so arranged t0 permit varying amounts of convected air to flow as the requirements for heat may vary.

Another object is to provide a cabinet incorporating a damper so arranged that the outlet grille is completely hidden from view when the damper is closed during periods of no heat requirement.

Another object is to provide a cabinet incorporating a front panel easily removable without tools so that interior of cabinet may be quickly accessible for cleaning, inspection of parts, installation, etc.

Another object is to provide a cabinet incorporating a tie strap which maintains the end panels of the cabinet at a predetermined spacing and dimension Which simplifies installation, and makes for neatness and satisfaction of job.

Another object is to provide a cabinet incorporating a removable grille of pleasing design that will hide or camouflage the lower or inlet air opening.

Another object of my invention is to provide a convector cabinet with provisions for locating the heating element at a proper height and provide the necessary "pitch to the heating element in either direction without use of bolts, nuts, loose pieces, etc. and without the use of any tools.

With these and other objects and advantages in view, this invention consists in the several novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter fully set forth and more particularly defined in the apended claims,

The invention is clearly illustrated in the drawings accompanying this specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a convection heater embodying one form of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the convection heater with its front panel partly broken away to show the heating element and its supports, part of the end panels being shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the convection heater with the central portion thereof broken away and part of the front panel broken away, portions of the cabinet being shown in section;

Fig. 4 is a view partly in plan and partly in horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a detail enlarged vertical cross section illustrating a certain damper and grille;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical cross section taken on the line 8--8 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a vertical cross section taken through the front panel;

Fig. 10 is a fragmental perspective view of one end panel of the cabinet;

Fig. 11 is a fragmental perspective view of the grille;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a fragment of an end panel and illustrating a certain tie strap and locking means for the front panel; and

Fig. 13 is a fragmental vertical cross section illustrating la modified form of connection between the front panel and grille.

Referring to said drawings which are merely illustrative of one embodiment of the invention, the reference character I designates the front panel, II, II the end panels, I2 the back wall and I3 the top member of the convection heater cabinet. v

The to'pA member isupreferably formed with downturned front and rear flanges l2, 13 and side flanges 14. v end panels and rear wall respectively, and the upper ends of said end panels and rear wall'are offset inwardly to permit the end panels and rear wall to be flush with the flanges: Theend flanges together.

The front panel is of less height than the cabinet, and its lower edge is disposed above tliebot`- tom of the cabinet, whereby an air inlet opening I4 is left below the lowerj edge of thefron't'panel andan air outlet opening I4a` is left between the upper edge of thepaneljand the top member I3.

On'the lower edge'of the front panel maybe formed an inwardlyV directed'flan'ge Illa and at the uper edge of the front panel may be provided an inwardly directed flange I5 terminating in a downturned flange I6, thus providing a hooklike arrangement at the top of the front panel by which the frontpanel is suspended. A metal bar 'I5' spot welded to the rear lface of the front panel is provided forv reenforcing the saine.

The front edge portionsof the end panels are formed with Vertical flanges IQwhich project toward the'front panel and serve as pilasters that add to the attractive appearance of the'c'abinet. The inner edge portionsof theflanges I9 are oiise't rearwardly as at 25, with the sidefedge portions of the front panel contacting therewith and being firmly and removably pressed against them. At the air inlet and air outlet openings, the edge portions of the flanges I9 are bent back into theinterior of the cabinet as atv 2I forv the purposes' of vappearance and to give'rigidity to theflanges I9.

A tie strap 22 welded or otherwise secure`d-to the end panels extends behindlth'e front panel and ties the two end panels together, thereby preventing any spreading or converging oftheffro'nt ends of the end panels.'4 Therfront"rn'anelrnayl be suspended by flanges 23 which extenduup `from the offset anges 20, or it maybe suspendedf'rom a grille 26 as will be hereinafter explained. formed upright stripsZ (see Fig. l2) spot welded or otherwise secured to the rear face of the front panel are provided at their lower end s with inclined tongues 24a which projectl through slots 25 formed in thetie strap and hold the front panel tightly in placev against the flanges 2B. To insert the tongues 24a into the slots 25, the` lower portion of the front panel is held ontwardly a suflicient distance toV permit-,the tongues 24a to enter the slots 25,y after which; the front panel is lowered, the inclinedrfa'c'es of the tonguess'erving to wedge the front panel against the flanges- In the upper end of the cabinet behindthe air outlet opening is the grillenzil 'whichis y).treferably of arcuate forni struck from acomrnon center.

The grille extends across the space betwen'the" The side and rear flanges overlap the` upper edge of the front panel and the back wall, from the top of the front panel to the top or back wall of the cabinet. The lower or forward edge of the grille is bent up into the U-bend as seen at 52 in Fig. 7, and said U-bend is hooked over the top of the flanges 23 and is spot welded thereto, if desired. The upper or rear end of the grille is spot welded to the top member I3 of the cabinet. The grille is formed with air outlet openings preferably in the form of slots 21 (see Fig. 6) which slots extend longitudinally of the grille. From one edge of each slot an air deflector strip or vane 28 projects into the part of the cabinet Vbelow or behind the grille; said vanes extend longitudinally of the grille and al1 incl'ine in a direction toward the air outlet opening so'asto'direct the flow of hot air rising in the cabinet toward the air outlet opening. If desired, the'vanesmay radiate from a common center.

#Evvingablyu mounted on an inturned horizontal fiange29 of.` the top member I3 (see Fig. 7) is a swingable damper 3i! desirably formed of sheet metal having an inturned flange 3l at its lower edge. Its upper edge portion is curled into an incomplete cylinder 32 which rests onthe'lange 29. U-shaped springs 3A carried by ametal strip 5550i ir'regular'cr'oss section weldedl or otherwise secured' to the top member engage theincomplete cylinder SZTCtheda-mper and holdit upon its seat. The irregular strip 53is` formed with notches 54, through which' one arm 'of eachspring 34 may extend so as to lie'un'derneath'the top member of the irregular strip', whichfis formed with spring detent's 55 that engageinr a slot 57 in' the a'rm155of each spring'. The" end ofthe other 'arm 53 is'curle'd'into' -a'fse'gmentf of a cylinder 59 which is spring' pressedagamst the incomplete cylinder 32 vof the-'damperl The tension of the'springsiis'a'mple tohold the'd'a'mper inany position o'f' adjustment. Because of the gap in the incomplete cylinder, as the damper approaches its nal closing position, the edget of the incompletefcylinder rides upon-the flange 29 permitting! theVY entire damper 'to lower slightly, whereby it isi held in positively closed position without any danger of chattering'. Toprevent endwise movement'oi the damper, the upper ends of the flanges I9 of the end panels arey formed with transverse flanges-a- (see Fig.y 4*), which extend across` the ends ofthe incompletefcylinder of' the damper.y When closed, `the damper covers the entire air outlet opening. Usually the damper is closed when'the heater is notin operation, but when in operation, the damper is=swung into-a more or less open-position to'permitua greater or lesser amount'v of hot* air, as is required, to be discharged into'theroom in'which-the'heater is installed. A handle 33 secured to the damper providesY means to facilitateopening andclosing the'sa-me.

A suitable heating element llfis supported'lin the interior of the cabinet abovey the air inlet opening I4; A heating-element of-the type shown and-described in-my applicationfor Letters Patent on Heating Element-for Convection Heaters, Serial-No. 776,363; ledSgeptember 26,1947-, is an example of afhighly efiicientheating-element useable in the present convection heater. Briefly, the heating element shown comprisesl an inlet header IIIV (see Fig; 2),v an outlet header 42V and finned tubes'4'3J connectingsaidV headers. The inlet header is'connected toa-supply pipe 4e for steam-or hot-water; and the outlet header is connected to a discharge pipe 45. If requiredyan air valve 6I may be connected to the heating element by a pipe B2.

Suitable means are provided for supporting the heating element in the cabinet. As shown, there are two dis-similar brackets 4S, il spot welded or otherwise secured to the end panels, each bracket having a supporting iiange 48 or 48a projecting toward the interior of the cabinet. The heating element is provided with side plates 49 formed in their ends with upper and lower notches 5G, 5l at one end and lia, 55a at the other end. When the heating element is assembled into place in the cabinet by a mechanic, the heating element is positioned so that the projecting flange 48 of the bracket 46 may enter one pair of notches 5D or 5| as necessary at the right hand end of the heating element. The heating element is then moved to the right as far as it will go and the left hand end will then drop into place with the side plates resting on the flanges 48a of the bracket 41.

If the mechanic wishes the heating element to pitch upward to the right he will assemble the lower notches 5i with the flange 48, or, if he wishes the heating element to pitch downward toward the right he will use the upper notches 5G. Thus, provision is made for properly pitching the heating element for draining of condensed steam in steam installations, or for entrained air of hot water installations to ow to the proper end of the heating element for eventual discharge.

If desired, the air inlet opening iii may be provided with a grille l63 removably secured to the end panels of the cabinet. One form of grille may comprise upright angle plates 64 having notches 55 in their lower edges in which are received pivot pins S6 upon which the grille 63 may be pivotally supported. In the upper end of the angle plates are secured spring urged buttons 61 which snap into sockets 63 formed in the flanges 2l when brought into register with the sockets.

Secured to and extending between the angle plates are louvres B9 which incline upwardly and rearwardly to direct the incoming air in a more or less upward direction. A metal strip 'lll secured to the underside of the louvres midway between their ends reenforces the louvres. i

In the modiiied form of the invention illustra-ted in Fig. 13, the front panel l0 may be suspended on the anges 23 as in the preferred form. The forward edge of the grille 'H may be formed integral with the front panel or it may be detachably secured thereto by screws and nuts 12," so that if it becomes necessary to obtain access to the interior of the cabinet the screws may be removed and the front panel removed by disengaging it from the flanges 23 and tie bar 22.

The cabinet is adaptable to conditions of free standing in a room or to be partially or almost wholly recessed into a wall. In the drawings the cabinet is shown as partially recessed into a wall, with a trim surrounding the top member and end panels of the cabinet.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A convection heater comprising in combination, a cabinet having a front panel, end panels,

a back wall and a top member, the front panel being of less height than the cabinet with its lower edge spaced from the bottom of the cabinet to leave an air inlet opening, and with its upper edge spaced below the top member to leave an air outlet opening, a heating element supported in the cabinet above and adjacent the air inlet opening, a grille positioned in said cabinet and extending from the lower edge of the air outlet opening inwardly across the ascending air path to the rear wall, said grille including air outlet openings and air deflector strips contiguous thereto extending longitudinally of said grille and projecting into the cabinet behind the grille and inclined in a direction toward the rst mentioned air outlet opening, and an adjustable damper for said air outlet opening, swingably mounted above the air outlet opening and the adjacent portions of said grille and being swingable inwardly from a closed position to an open position, and said damper in any of its adjusted positions with respect to the grille adapted to aid in the direction of the air iiow through the grille to the air outlet opening.

2. A convection heater comprising in combination, a cabinet having a front panel, end panels, a back wall and a top member, the front panel being of less height than the cabinet with its lower edge spaced from the bottom of the cabinet to leave an air inlet opening, and with its upper edge spaced below the top member to leave an air outlet opening, a heating element supported in the cabinet above and adjacent the air inlet opening, a grille positioned in said cabinet, said grille being curvilinear in cross section and extending inwardly and upwardly from the lower edge of the air outlet opening across the ascending air path to the rear wall, and a damper for said air outlet opening, swingably mounted above the air outlet opening and the portion of the grille adjacent the latter, and being swingable upwardly from a closed position to an open position and across the curvilinear face of the grille, and said damper in its closed position being parallel to the plane of the panel and acting as a closure for the outlet opening.

3. A convection heater comprising in combination, a cabinet having a front panel, end panels, a back wall and a top member, the front panel being of less height than the cabinet with its lower edge spaced from the bottom of the cabinet to leave an air inlet opening, and with its upper edge spaced below the top member to leave an air outlet opening, a heating element supported in the cabinet above and adjacent the air inlet opening, a grille positioned in said cabinet, said grille being curvilinear in cross section and extending inwardly and upwardly from the lower edge of the air outlet opening across the ascending air path to the rear wall, with said front panel suspended from the lower end of the grille, and a damper swingably mounted on an axis positioned above the air outlet opening, said damper being swingable inwardly from a closed position to an open position and across the curvilinear face of the grille, and said panel adapted to be detachably connected to the cabinet contiguous to the lower edge of the outlet opening.

4. A convection heater comprising in combination, a cabinet having a front panel, end panels, a back wall and a top member, the front panel being of less height than the cabinet with its lower edge spaced from the bottom of t-he cabinet to leave an air inlet opening, and with its upper edge spaced below the top member to `leave an goederen aiifo'utlet opening, .al heating element` supported ini' the cabin'etlabove: and! adjacent the air= inlet opening, a fixed grillepositioned in saidficabinet and extending inwardly from i the lower edgef or" the air outlet opening. across /thef ascending air path to the rear WaILIadam-per' for saidlairf outlet opening, swingably. mounted above the" air outlet opening, said damperl being'. swingablefinwardly from a closed position concealing said grille to an openposition exposing said4 grille, andV friction'imeans operatively supported. from the ltop member for' holdingthe damper infany position. of adjustment,.andra grilleA forl the.v` air inlet Vopening including louvres extending length- Wise of thev cabinet and'inclined upwardly: and rearwardly tofdi'rect the incoming air-through the heating element.

5. A convection heater comprising in combination, a cabinet having a front panel, endpanels, a back wall and ai top member, the fronti-panel being ofV less height than the cabinet with its lower edge spaced from the bottom of the cabinet to leave an air inlet:r opening,-and4A witnits upper edge spaced below the top memberto leave an airv outlet' opening, a heating'.element supported in the cabinet above andadjacent thefair inlet opening, a grille positionedfin said cabinet and extending from theiower edge offthefair outlet opening inwardly across the ascending. air path to the rear Wall, a damper: for saidair out'- let opening having oner` edge Acurleol'into4 an. incomplete cylinder, swingably mounted above the air outlet openingon a-lange formed as a' part of the top member; said damper beingpswingable from a closedposition to an open position, and U-shaped spring urged fric-tionmeanssupported from the top member andb'earin'gfagainst-'said incomplete cylinder and urgingl theV samek into frictional contact withsaid-lange for holding the damper in any position of adjustment 6. A convection heaterl adapted`Y to be either free-standing in a room ormounted` withina recessin a wall, comprising., in combination, aicabinet having a front panel,f.end panels, at back wall anda top member; the'iront panel-being of less heightthan the. cabinet` withits lower edge Vspaced from theA bottom ofi the.: cabinet to leave an air inlet-opening., and withxits upper ledge spaced below the top member toleave an air outlet opening, aheating..elementsupported in the cabinet aboveand extending across the cabinet above the air inletopening, affixedgrille Amounted within thev cabi-netandincorporated* as part of the front panel and extending. inwardly and upwardly from the lower'` edge of the airl outlet above and adjacent' theairinlet opening; an airv directing grille positioned within 'the cabinet', and secured at itsV lower edge-.tothe-'front' panel'and extending inwardly from therlower edgezof the'air outletl opening across' the' ascending, airf path to the rear wall,v said.' grillev` provided withr air"v out-1- let-openings and air deflector strips projecting into the cabinet behind the grillefandu inclined.' in a` direction to direct air toward the rst mentioned'air outlet opening, and-ai damperswing.- ably mounted abovelthe air outletopening and c'o-operable -with thegrille inthe adjustedipositions of the dampery toV direct the air toward the air` outlet opening, said damper beingswingable inwardly: from a verticall closed position to an angular open position in the adjusted positions thereof.V

8. In Va convection-heater adapted to be. freestanding in a room ormounted ,withina recess -in a wall, thecombination-of a-cabinet havingan air inlet opening-at -its bottom and-an air-out'- let opening at the upper end of an uprightwall thereof, a fixed grille extending inwardly across the interior of the ycabinet from the lower edge of the air outlet opening, said grille provided with air outletv openingsand air deflector strips projecting into the cabinet behind v:the grille and inclined in adirection to direct air toward vthe first mentioned air-outlet opening, a dampermovably mounted to cover and uncover the air outletopening and to move across and respectively conceal or expose the grille and a second grille complementally formed to and removably secured` in the air inlet opening.

9; A convection heater comprising, in combina-- tion, a cabinet including` a frontpanel and forming an air inlet openingcontiguousto the panel and adjacent the lower end of the cabinet, and an air outlet opening contiguous to theupper. end ofthe panel and adjacent the upper end of: the cabinet,y a heating elementl supportedv in said cabinet adjacent and above the air inlet opening, a top forming theupper edge o-the air outlet opening, a grille of curvilinean` cross-section-positionedv withinthe: cabinet and-*below the top contiguous to the air outlet opening-formed `above the top edge of the panel and extending inwardly. and upwardlyy across the ascending. air. path, said grille being attached to 4the-v cabinet, 'and a damperA swingabl-y mountedto coverand-uncover the air'outlet opening and to swing:I inward-ly acrossand respectively conceal or expose# the grille.

10. A convection heater comprising-.in combination, a cabinetA-includingfaffront panelfand forming an air inlet opening. contiguous tothe panel and adjacentthe rlower end-0f the cabinet, and. an'air outlet openingcontiguousto the upperv end of the panel-andadjacent the upper end ofl the cabinet, aheating element supported in said cabinet adjacentand abovetli'efair' inlet opening,- atop adapted :to form the uppcrfedge of the air outlet opening; a xed'grille of'curvilinear cross section positioned-n and=attached toithe cabinet andfpositionedbelowthe top contiguous to the air outlet opening and:extending-inwardly across the ascendingV air path; said'gri'lle'having air deflecting vanesr extendingY longitudinallyy of the grille and inclined toward the airf outlet opening, and-a damper swingablyx'mounted to cover and'uncover the air outlet'open'ingf and to swing. inwardly across` and. respectively conceal orA eX-posevthe grille.I

11. In af'convection heater., the combinationof a cabinet-having: an f air: inlet. opening; a'titsibotytorn andl anairfv outlet opening, ati` the'upper end of an upright wall thereof, a fixed grille extending inwardly acrossthe interiorw of theicabinet from the lower edge of the air outlet.' opening, saidgrilleprovided-with air outlet opten-ings and air deflectonstripsfprojecting into.- the cabinet 9 behind the grille and inclined in a direction to direct air toward the mst-mentioned air outlet opening, a damper movably mounted to cover and uncover the air outlet opening and to move across and respectively conceal or expose the grille.

BENJAMIN SPIETH.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 465,563 Hood Dec. 22, 1891 705,202 Buckman July 22, 1902 814,888 Symonds Mar. 13, 1906 1,067,245 Harmon July 15, 1913 1,706,846 Fisher Mar. 26, 1929 Number l0 Name Date Hart et a1. Jan. 27, 1931 Modine Apr. 12, 1932 Lloyd Jan. 2, 1934 Young Aug. 28, 1934 Smith, Jr May 21, 1935 Mellor Dec. 21, 1937 Schick May 17, 1938 Heasley et al Sept. 9, 1941 Smith Nov. 11, 1941 Schlirf Dec. 9, 1941 Greenway Mar. 3, 1942 Levine July 20, 1943 Stempel Oct, 12, 1943 Spieth Mar. 30, 1948 

